Drill stem tubular connection with internal stiffener ring
Inactive Publication Date: 2011-05-19
HUNTING ENERGY SERVICES LLC
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- Abstract
- Description
- Claims
- Application Information
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Benefits of technology
[0015]The present invention has as a further object to provide a method for making drill pipe for use in horizontal boring operations utilizing a special form of a threaded connection or coupling with an internal stiffener ring which eliminates the need for hot forging operations, or the like. By eliminating the use of these more elaborate manufacturing processes, the present invention makes the manufacturing process simpler, faster and therefore less expensive.
[0016]Another object of the invention is to provide a design which increases the allowable torque between the pin and box members used in forming a tubular coupling or connection by increasing the shoulder contact areas of the connection. Such an improved design will allow the drill stem to be adequately torqued for any eventual situation which may be encountered in the drilling operation at hand.
[0017]Another object of the present invention is to increase the rigidity of the tubular member in the region under the male member of a joint or connection in order to distribute stresses caused by bending of the tubular member in use.
[0019]An internal stiffener ring is received within the internal bore of the pin end and underlies and extends along a portion of the length thereof. The stiffener ring has an innermost extent terminating in an exposed end which is received upon an internal shoulder provided in the internally threaded box end. The stiffener ring also has an external shoulder formed at the innermost extent thereof which traps the pin face between the ring exterior and the box threaded interior. Selected radii and angles present on the box internal shoulder, the stiffener ring exposed end, and between the pin face and the stiffener ring external shoulder provide improved control over the forces encountered during joint makeup and during drilling operations.
Problems solved by technology
In areas where an existing infrastructure is already in place, however, a trench can cause serious disturbance to structures or roadways.
Further, there is always the possibility that digging a trench may damage previously buried utilities, and that structures or roadways disturbed by digging the trench are rarely restored to their original condition.
For example, the trenching operation can pose a danger of injury to workers as well as passing traffic.
The loose joint will not be able to carry any reverse rotational torque load unless it is retorqued.
If the uncoupling occurs underground, it may be difficult to identify that a joint has become loose and the operation and / or steering of the horizontal directional drilling machine can be negatively effected.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the forces on pipe used for directional drilling are different than those encountered in vertical drilling operations.
Pipe for HDD may be subject to more wear because it is supported by the bore wall during drilling and backreaming, and it may also encounter greater pullback and rotational forces than vertical pipe.
However, given the high working stresses at work in these operations, it is also true that as the diameter of the pipe, particularly in critical areas of the drill stem decreases, that the failure rate in these areas increases.
However, the heat forging process typically used for deforming the ends of the drill pipe is time consuming and expensive because it requires high heat and multiple operations.
Cold forging processes are also expensive.
Method used
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[0027]The preferred version of the invention presented in the following written description and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting examples included in the accompanying drawings and as detailed in the description which follows. Descriptions of well-known components and processes and manufacturing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the principal features of the invention as described herein. The examples used in the description which follows are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed invention.
[0028]The basic operating environment of one preferred form of the invention will now be described with respect to FIG. 1 of the drawings which shows a typical commercially availab...
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A threaded pipe coupling is shown for a drill pipe used in horizontal boring operations utilizing a special form of a threaded connection with an internal stiffener ring which eliminates the need for hot forging operations. The pipe coupling is used for joining an upset region of a first tubular member to a further tubular member of lesser external diameter. The internal stiffener ring is received within the internal bore of the pin end of the coupling and underlies and extends along a portion of its length. The stiffener ring having an innermost extent terminating in an exposed end which is received upon an internal shoulder provided in the mating internally threaded box end. The stiffener ring also has an external shoulder formed at the innermost extent thereof which traps the pin face between the ring exterior and the box threaded interior.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to tubular members such as those used to form a drill stem for use in horizontal directional drilling operations and to a coupling and a coupling technique for increasing the applicable torque that such drill stem members can withstand.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]In today's world, there are numerous examples of underground conduits, lines and cables which surround us and which enable many of our everyday activities. For example, there are utility lines for water, electricity, gas, telephone, cable television, digital communication and computer connections. It is oftentimes preferable to bury these lines for reasons of safety and aesthetics instead of, for example, running physical pipelines above ground or electrical lines and cables overhead. In many situations, the underground utilities can be buried in a trench, which is subsequently back-filled. Trenching is mos...
Claims
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CPCE21B17/042
InventorOLIVIER, III, WILKINSON L.
OwnerHUNTING ENERGY SERVICES LLC